(Newser)
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Alaska Airlines has issued an apology amid widespread outrage that stemmed from an incident in which a flight crew reportedly appeared to favor a straight couple over a gay couple. Per the New York Times, David Cooley, owner of West Hollywood gay bar The Abbey, was preparing to fly to New York from Los Angeles when a member of the crew asked his partner to move from his seat "so a couple could sit together." That's according to Cooley's account of Sunday's events, which he posted about in a lengthy Facebook post that has been shared by thousands. "I explained that we were a couple and wanted to sit together. He was given a choice to either give up the premium seat and move to coach or get off the plane," Cooley wrote. They chose to leave the flight. In the ensuing days, nationwide backlash prompted Alaska Airlines' response on Tuesday.

“This unfortunate incident was caused by a seating mix-up on a full flight. It’s our policy to keep all families seated together whenever possible. That didn’t happen here. We are sorry for the situation and did not intend to make Mr. Cooley and his partner feel uncomfortable in any way," the airline's statement said, in part. Per the Seattle Times, Cooley tweeted on Tuesday that he's accepted the apology. "Thank you to everyone for all the support. @AlaskaAir has reached out, apologized, and we are discussing making things right," he wrote.

So a flight attendant approaches two guys sitting next to each other and politely asks if they would mind moving to separate seats so that a couple could instead have theirs. "Well I never" she heard one say and noticed they were holding hands..... To avoid such embarrassing scenes, it would be wise in the future to fly the skies on "Airways for Gays"

FJSully3

Aug 3, 2018 8:46 AM CDT

I hate to say it, but OMG! I'm actually starting to feel sorry for them!? What am I, a "vanguard" of tolerant straights?! What?! Ami getting over my homophobia?!!! I apologize, I'm suffering from "Future Shock" syndrome, and just can't rationalize and suppress as well as I did back in college.....

Carlos Hernandz

Aug 2, 2018 8:45 AM CDT

So one couple is separated to accommodate another couple. SUE AND BOYCOTT Alaska!